korea

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Apart from a very small worm that grows in a famous Sardinia cheese, called “Casu Marzu“, and that some eats with the cheese, I had never heard of other edible worms, at least in Western culture. It is known that in Asian and Eastern countries anything is eaten, including insects and larvae, but to know that in Korea they eat some giant worms, well… those images have particularly disgusted me. Although the thought of eating worms and insect larvae is rather shocking for many of you, I guess!
The worm, to which I refer, belongs to a species that lives mainly in the Yellow and China Sea, and its scientific name is Urechis unicinctus, a species of marine spoon worm.

It is widely referred to as the fat innkeeper worm or the penis fish that lives in burrows in sand and mud.

Why penis fish? Well… look at the pictures and you’ll understand!
The spoon worms or Echiura, are a small group of marine animals similar in size and habit.
This spoon worm is commonly eaten raw with salt and sesame oil in Korea and in parts of Japan. It is also used for fishing bait.
In Chinese cuisine the worm is stir-fried with vegetables, or dried and powdered to be used as a savory taste enhancer. In particular, the worm is considered an important ingredient in Shandong cuisine and is used in numerous recipes.

Looking at its pictures, it looks soft and tender and the given “penis” name truly suits it!
By hearsay, people prefer to eat it raw because the heat would make it inconsistent.
How about… do you want to taste it?
And how do you prefer it, into small pieces or put it all in your mouth……